How to care for your upholstery?

August 12, 2023 | puresurface | Upholstery Care

Table of Contents

Your lovely furniture not only showcases your taste but also sets the mood of your home. The fine upholstery that brings color, texture, and comfort to your space deserves top-notch care. In this post, we’ll delve into upholstery care tips and guide you on how to keep it looking fresh.

Tips for upholstery care

Every piece, be it your beloved sofa, elegant dining chair, or cherished ottoman, may sport different fabrics. Each type, whether a blend or pure, needs its own kind of attention.

The Upholstery Cleaning Schedule:

Moreover, experts suggest you should clean upholstery every 12 to 24 months. This practice keeps your furniture looking new and makes your home feel cleaner. Thus, proper care is key to keeping your items looking their best.

Knowing your fabric is one of the primary upholstery care tips:

Natural Fibers

They have their own quirks, starting with plant-based fibers like cotton or linen. For example, they soak up spills, which can make drying take longer. Wet spots can sometimes turn tan or brown, a problem known as “cellulosic browning.” So, it’s best to avoid letting these items stay wet and always vacuum them.

Protein Fibers

Next, we have luxe fabrics like silk and wool. Wool is tough against dirt and doesn’t catch fire easily. However, rough handling or strong chemicals can damage it. Silk feels rich, but it can show water spots and can get hurt by strong stuff like acids.

Synthetic Fibers

Moving on to man-made fibers, these range from partly natural to fully man-made. The list includes rayon, acetate, polyester, olefin, nylon, and acrylic.

Rayon, a silk look-alike, shines nicely but needs gentle care. Sunlight can fade it.
Acetate feels soft and looks shiny, good for curtains. Yet, it gets weaker when wet.
Nylon is great for homes with kids or pets because of its soft and strong nature. Still, avoid placing it in direct sunlight. We do recommend nylon as of our upholstery care tips.
Polyester is popular since it fights off stains and is easy to clean. But, oils might make it turn yellow.
Olefin, easy on the wallet, remains colorful and handles chemicals well. On the downside, sunlight can weaken it.
Acrylic works well outdoors since it can handle sunlight. Although tough against stains, using it a lot might make it rough.

Knowing your fabrics helps in effective care, ensuring they last longer.

Pro Upholstery Care Tips:

Lastly, taking care of your furniture means following a few tips:

Always vacuum.
Avoid store products that might harm.
For spills, gently blot with a cloth.

Lastly, part of our upholstery care tips involves trusting the professionals when unsure. Each fabric type has its own needs. So, it’s best to trust pros to keep your upholstery looking and feeling great. Happy cleaning!

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